Patrick Chai moved across an ocean at age 12. He left Taiwan for the United States. Now Chai is trying to help people make a different journey — flying to another planet! Chai works at NASA to plan for people to visit Mars.
May is AAPI Heritage month. Chai is Asian American. He talked about how his culture connects to his job!
NOM: What is your job?
Chai: I am an engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. We take a lot of pride in the work here. I do a lot of planning for human Mars exploration. That is my passion.
NOM: How will we to get to Mars?
Chai: We start by returning to the Moon. Artemis I flew this year, which is exciting. And we have a series of missions planned. Each one is increasing our reach. Then the next goal will be Mars.
NOM: Which country will send people to Mars?
Chai: I think the exploration of Mars is not a national thing. This is going to be a global effort. It’s important to have people from
backgrounds. So, my work focuses on partners across the world. We are trying to work together to send humans to another planet.
NOM: Who will go to Mars?
Chai: I am not going to be the one who sets foot on Mars. It’s going to be the kids in school right now. That’s why we focus on
. So kids are ready when they grow up.
NOM: Tell us about your journey to America.
Chai: I was born in Taiwan. I was 12 years old when my brother and I
to the United States. We ended up in New Jersey. My parents still live in Taiwan. So, we spent a lot of time flying back and forth. We both got U.S.
. I go back as often as I can.
NOM: Does your culture help in your job?
Chai: The culture in Taiwan drives how I work. If I didn’t have that, I probably wouldn’t be having as much success. I’ve reviewed papers in Mandarin. I wouldn’t have been able to if I didn’t speak the language. That is a little bonus.
NOM: Do you bring your Asian culture to work?
Chai: I’ve brought homemade dumplings to NASA. Those are popular. Taiwan’s non-official dish is beef noodle soup. I make that all the time. Also, boba tea was invented in Taiwan. Now it’s everywhere.
NOM: Could a person on Mars eat dumplings and drink boba tea?
Chai: Yes! Food can be such a great comfort. Dumplings and foods across different backgrounds will be part of our plan. You have to give an astronaut something to remind them of home. It’s so powerful.
NOM: When will we send a human to Mars?
Chai: My best guess is the late 2030s or early 2040s. The saying is: “If you want to go fast, you go alone. But if you want to go for a long time, you go together.” We’re trying to do this together. It might take a little longer. But if we bring everybody in, we will come up with a better future for everybody.
Updated May 8, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn (Russ)